LAD #25: The Dawes Act

 Signed into law February 8, 1887, The Dawes Act allowed the U.S. to break up Native American lands into individual parcels.  These little chunks of land would be given out to each of the individual Native Americans, and the surplus land was to be sold to white settlers.  The plots that were given out to the Native Americans depended on each persons age, as well as if they had a family or not.  Furthermore, Native Americans were allowed to choose their own land, and if two people chose the same plot then it would be divided and they'd be given the rest of their land somewhere else.  If picks for plots were not made in a certain amount of time (four years), then an agent would pick for them.  Native Americans with this land would receive legal patents that would be enforced and protected.  These Native Americans were now under U.S. law however.  This meant they could be protected by the law, but also could be punished by it.  Lastly, Native Americans not a part of any tribe could apply for U.S. citizenship.  Tribes such as the Iroquois and the Sioux were not offered these things however.